Ledger-binder tray.



s. n. COLEMAN. LEDGER BINDER TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. IB. |918'.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

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STATES Ormes.

STEPHEMR. COLEMAN, OFJOKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA, Assreivonlrownsrnnn 1BANK SUPPLY-OOMPANY; OFIOKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA, AoonrOnATIoN-or OKLAHOMA.y

LnDGnn-BINDERQ'r-RAY.'

ledgerbinders forfbindingloose leaf ledger sheets.

Theprimary object :of the invention is to providea binder tray wl1,ich.,af:'ords greater ease and convenience, in binding,removing,

adjustingand otherwise handlingthesheets,

andespecially in-using the sheets inl conjunctionV with ledger posting. machines, over 'binders of ordinaryVA construction.

Another object ,of fthe invention is topro#V vide a .bindertray which will ,accommodate sheets 4of different sizesv and which admits of theY more ready, convenient and accuratel placing of the sheets inpositio n as .well as the lateral adjustmentof the sheetsto cerf tain positions, Y as,- lfoninstance, the, extension of the sheets to thet leftto indicate over` drafts, etc.l

Stilianother object ofthe invention is tor provide a .binderitrayin which thev followers are Y constructed to ybring aibearing `pressure upon the centers `of the sheets,thereby firmly clamping the sheets and-holding themv in acompact manner,

Still anotherobjectof the invention is to provide a. bindergtray of great ,storage capacityy and embodying` in its .construction side. pieces which arey adjustable laterally to suit different widthsof j ledger sheets, to

serve as guides to facilitatethe. insertion of the sheets, and toserve fas gstops to permit lateral adjustment or extension of the sheets forI specied purposes.,

With these and ther objectsin view, thel invention consists vof, the features of construction, combination `fand,arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and, claimed, reference beinghad Ato the accom-V panying, drawing, in which Figure lis a central vertical longitudinalV section through the binder tray.

Fig. 2 ,is a' top ,planview of fthe tray.

, Fia 3 .is .a :vertical "transverse section on` une af-s Vof Vrag. 2;

specification of Letters Patent.

4 in which is disposed afollower actuating shaft 5 having oppositely threaded end portions 16k and 7, one of said end' portions having arighthand thread `andthe .otherV a left hand thread. j At 4itslcenter the shaft.

is provided v0with, ra smoothfsur'facedf portion 8 journaled in acentral ,bearingzQ secured within the,groove151, yand at l its rear v, end the shaft is formed with asmooth-surfaced portion orrjournal2 10'wh'ich is'fitted forrotation in -a bearing recess 11fin therear end wall 3. Theforwardend Aofthe'shaftterminates in a I smooth-surfaced portion or journal 12, ttedforrotation ina bearing member 13 secured within the groove 4, and

an angular portion 1.4 projectingpinto anV opening 15 formed in the `frontfendwallk E2. 'Thisopening 15 lis adaptedfonthereception ofan operating handle or key hav ingY an Vangular socket toengage the angularl endlt of the shaft, whereby said shaft :may be rotated for the purpose of adjusting the followers.

The'ledger sheetsresting Vupon the bottom wall 1 are adapted to bek clamped and held between a pair `of lfollower members 16, and

17', each comprising a vertically, disposed followerfboard or plate 18,'of suitable sizey and shape, but preferably of Voblong or ohlong rectangulan form, andhavingat its side edges flanges ,'19 projecting in the reversedirection to its clamping face and in parallel relation to each other. The clampf ing y.plate 18 is mounted ulDOll 'at carrier bracket consistingv of va horizontal transverse base pieceY 2O` having. at, its ends upright arms 21.- The arms21 liev inl rear ofthe clamping, plate 18 and have forwardly curved ori offset upper endsw22rcprovided with forwardly projecting rounded lugsior earsV 23,- .and upper j rear., stop` shoulders 2&1,"

the lugs, 23.5bei11s aperturedio ,recevepvot pinsV or rivets' 25' on' which the flanges 1,9

Patented 'Jan'.- 7, 1919:

Applicationjled April 18, 1918. Serial No. 229,304.V

of the clamping plate 18 are pivotally mounted, substantially in line with the horizontal transverse center of said clamping plate, or at a point a'bout midway of the `clamped against liability of displacement.

The base pieces 2O of the carrier brackets are provided with guide members 26 movable in the groove 4Yand having threaded openings for the passage of and for engagement with the respective threaded portions 6 and 7 of the shaft, said guide members thus serving as nuts whereby when the shaft is turned in one direction the followers` will be moved ltoward one another and when the shaft is moved in the reverse direction the followers will be spread apart or moved away from one another, such adjustments adapting the sheets to be clamped and released in an obvious manner.

Secured to the inner faces of the upright end walls 2and 3 by screws 27 and spacing washers 28 are horizontal transverse bracket plates 29 provided with longitudinally extending guide slots 30. These bracket plates are designed for adjustably supporting a pair of sheet retaining rods 31 extending longitudinally above the bottom wall 1 on opposite sides of the groove 4, said rods engaging the usual notches in the lower edges of the sheets. The front and rear ends of the rods are adjustably supported in position upon the bracket plates 29 by U-shaped spring metal clips 32, which are arranged to straddle and slidably engage the bracket plates. The leaves of each of these U-shaped clips are formed with registering openings 33 to receive the ends of the rods, which also pass through the slots 30 in the bracket plates 29, whereby the rods are connected with the clips and slidably mounted upon the bracket plates for adjustment, while they are held from casual displacement. The leaves of the clips 32, by their spring action, engage the sides of the bracket plates 29 with suflicient friction to maintain them in adjusted position, while permitting them to be slidably adjusted whenever it is desired to space the rods 31 a greater or less distance apart, to register with the notches in the .lower edges of ledger sheets of. different widths, the binder thus beingadapted to receive and hold ledger sheets of different widths or sizes within any desired range.

The sheets supported by the binder tray are held from lateral displacement by duplicate side pieces 34 and 35, each comprising a bail-shaped vrod or wire. The body portion of each side piece extendsk longitudinally and horizontally above the bottom wall 1 and between the end walls 2 and 3 and has its downturned end portions 36 terminating in journals 37 and 38 which are re,- spectively mounted in a bearing opening 39 in the front wall 2 and a bearing recess 40 in the rear wall 3, thus mounting the side pieces 34 and 35rto tilt or swing laterally in an inward or outward direction. The journall 37 of each side piece is elongated and extended outwardly through Ythe opening 29 and threaded to receive an internally threaded thumb buttonor nut 4l which may be turned up to bear against the wall 2 and thus frictionally clamp the side piece in any position of adjustment. The two side pieces 34 and 35 may be disposed in a normally ver'- tical positionto retain and hold from lateral displacement sheets of a given width, may be tilted inwardly to varying degrees to decrease the distance between them for re-v taining sheets ofnarrower width, and may be tilted outwardly to retain sheets of a greater width. In inserting sheets within the binder the two side pieces 34 and 35 may be tilted outwardly to form inclined guides, whereby the sheets may be more easily and conveniently insertedin position, and the right hand guide 35 may be adjusted to any prescribed position for use as an abutment or guiding edge against which the right hand edges of the sheets may be brought to bear as they are inserted to bring the notchesI in the lower edges of the sheets into exact register with the rods 31, thus adapting the sheets to be applied very rapidly and with great accuracy, whereby such work may be facilitated. The side piece 34 may be tilted outwardly to any extent to allow any of those sheets showing over drafts.r or which otherwise require special attention, to be lifted from engagement with the rods 31 and extended or drawn out so as to project at the left of the stack, in order that such sheets may be separatedV from the body of the stack to receive special attention in posting or other work.

The binder as thus constructed may be supported upon a suitable stand and is especially designed for binding ledger sheets and for use in connection with ledger posting machines, whereby a large number of ledger sheets may be bound in a stack and disposed in such manner as to be readily, quickly and conveniently removed or adjusted and replaced, as to afford increased advantages in posting and other similar work, while at the same time giving valso increased capacity over ordinarynloose leaf binders. 1t will, of

COllrSe, be ObVOLlS that the tray may be madey of any given size and by reason of its construction is adapted to hold, in a compact form, a much great-er number of sheets than an ordinary type of loose leaf binder, and that, as the followers are adapted to clamp the sheets at a central point, the sheets will be more compactly held and, when the followers are retracted, may be removed or replaced without diiculty or inconvenience. Furthermore, it is evident that by the provision of the adjustable side pieces 34 and 35 greater convenience is afforded in enabling the sheet-s to be rapidly inserted with great accuracy, removed with freedom, and adjusted or extended laterally to bring' certain sheets to a position for special attention, making the device especially advantageous in binding a large number of ledger sheets together and in facilitating the operation of posting and other similar work.

It is to be understood that while it is desirable to have both side pieces 34 and 35 adjustable as described, I do not limit the invention thereto, as one of the side pieces may be made rigid and the other adjustable, or both made adjustable, within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Y

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim l. In a binder of the character described,

the combination of a binder frame, a follower support having uprights provided |with forwardly offset portions, and a clamping mernber pivoted to said offset portions of the uprights substantially midway'of the height of the member so as to bear upon the center of a sheet to be clamped.

2. In a binder of the character described, the combination of a binder frame, a follower support having forwardly offset por` tions, and a follower clamp having rearwardly extending flanges pivoted to said ofi"- set portions of the uprights at a point about midway of the height of the follower' clamp, so as to adapt said follower clamp to bear upon the center of a sheet to be clamped.

3. In a binder of the character described, the combination of a binder frame, a follower support having upright arms provided at their upper ends lwith forwardly offset portions lying in advance of the vertical plane thereof, and a follower clamp having rearward extensions pivoted to said offset portions of the uprights at a point substantially midway of the height of the follower clamp so as to adapt said follower clamp to bear upon the center of a sheet to be clamped.

4. In a binder of the character described, the combination of a binder frame, follower supports adjustably mounted on the binder frame, each of said supports having a pair of upright arms provided with forwardly offset portions, means for adjusting said follower supports toward or from each other, and follower clamps having rearward extensions pivoted to the offset portions of the follower supports approximately midway of the height of said follower clamps.

5. In a binder of the character described, the combination of a binder frame, slotted bracket plates at the ends of the binder frame, spring clips slidably embracing said bracket plates, and sheet retaining rods carried by said clips.

6. In a binder of the character described, the combination ofy a binder frame, slotted bracket plates at the ends of the binder frame, U-shaped spring clips slidably embracing said bracket plates and having registering openings in the leaves thereof, and sheet retaining rods having their end portions iitted in the openings of the clips and extending through the slots of the bracket plates.

7 In a binder of the character described, the combination of a binder frame, sheet retaining and clamping means upon the binder frame, and a laterally adjustable side piece at a side of the binder frame.

8. In a binder of the character described,

the combination of a binder frame, sheet retaining and clamping means upon the binder frame, a laterally swinging or tilting side piece at a side of the binder frame, and means for holding said side piece in adjusted position.

Y 9. In a binder of the character described, the combination of a binder frame, sheet retaining and clamping means upon the binder frame, and laterally adjustable side pieces at the sides of the binder frame.

10. In a binder of the character described, the combination of a binder frame, sheet retaining and clamping means upon the binder frame, and laterally swinging or tilting side pieces at the opposite sides of the binder frame.

l1. In a binder of the character described, the combination of aV binder frame, sheet retaining and binding means upon the binder frame, laterally tilting or swinging side pieces at the sides of the binder frame, and means for securing the same in adjusted position.

12. A ledger sheet binder comprising a tray-like frame consisting of a base and front and rear end pieces, sheet binding and clamping means supported by the binder frame, adjustable side pieces extending along the sides of the binder frame, and means for securing said side pieces in adjusted position. Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

STEPHEN R. COLEMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 2D. C. j 

